Homecoming

A Neon Genesis Evangelion one-shot by Andrew J. Talon

Disclaimer: Gainax owns it, I don't. I'm not making any money off this story either.

- - - - - -

Emotion was not a foreign concept to Rei. She had feelings, rarely indulged in or fully experienced due to her nature, but they were there. However, the only emotions she had been completely lost and immersed in were those of pain, anguish, suffering. Relatively recent experiences, associated with the failed synchronization test.

Passion was undeniably foreign to her. Affection even more so save in those small amounts bestowed by the Commander.

Yet in this hospital bed, every morning she had woken up within it she had been beset by what seemed the after effects of those emotions. Lingering warmth, a feeling of contentment to rival the pain in her injuries. It all vanished quickly upon waking, leaving only a faint echo soon drowned out by the sensations of her own being, but it perplexed Rei.

Quite calmly, she had asked Dr. Akagi about these sensations. The blonde had, quite characteristically, given her a condescending expression of concern and said she would look into it.

Nothing had changed. Rei had not asked further. It had continued.

The faintest impressions of whispers in light and dark, a lover's exchange rested on her memories, things she could not really explain. It confused Rei. It was something new, something different.

She was not made for things that were new and different. She was made for a purpose, and to fulfill it. Period.

So why were her dreams populated by foreign emotions? Why were her dreams filled with people she did not know? Could not know?

The boy stood in front of the train station, gripping the straps on his backpack tightly. He looked around curiously, a strange kind of determination in his stance. A man in a suit and trenchcoat stood near him, hands in his pockets. The boy looked right at her, and by his expression she knew he saw her. The man looked as well-And Rei felt herself blown out of his awareness, like a candle being snuffed out. The boy's face is the last thing she sees, before her awareness floats away, far away from a dreadful presence she is all too happy to escape.

A couple is lying in bed. She stares at the two, tracing the contours of their naked bodies as they lay there, covered by a thin sheet. The boy sits up and stretches, sighing and looking relaxed. The girl sighs after, and reaches a lightly tanned hand up to his side.

"What's wrong?" She asked.

"Nothing," the boy replies flatly. The girl sits up fully and gives the boy a hug from behind, resting her head on his shoulder. The boy makes no movement, save from his dark red eyes that glance over at her.

"You're lying," she murmured. The boy looks sullen.

"It's nothing... Go back to sleep," he says. The girl sighs quietly and nuzzles his shoulder.

"I can't sleep when you're tense like that," she murmured.

"So don't touch me," he replied gruffly. The girl takes no offense and merely smiles.

"Do you want me to stop touching you?" She asked.

The boy is silent. The girl smiles shyly.

"What is it?"

"... Feeling things... Seeing things..." He shakes his head. "They're just dreams... It's nothing..."

"Nothing?" The girl prodded lightly.

"..."

The girl sighs again. The boy grumbles.

"It's nothing... Just some... Guy in a tower..." He closes his eyes. "And he's kicked my ass."

"Do you know him?" The girl asked.

"Nope. I just know I hate him," the boy replied. He shrugged. "The guy's just... So fucking smug about it. No, not even smug... He's not smug, not really. He's just acting that way. Fucker's won and he doesn't even feel like he has."

"You would feel smug?" The girl asked.

"Fuck yes I would," the boy said with a feral grin. "I'm the biggest, baddest motherfucker out of a whole army of big, bad motherfuckers, and this bastard just beat us all! Single-handedly! Not a scratch on him! I was him I'd be gloating over these morons."

"Yet he's not," the girl said. The boy grumbled some more.

"Just doesn't make any sense..." He reached an arm around her waist and pulled her into his lap, her fingers running through his jet black hair.

"Something else that doesn't make sense," he growled deeply. "You're in my bed, naked, and you haven't been screaming my name for the last ten minutes."

"Hnnn," the girl moaned softly as the boy began to do things to her. "You're always changing the subject..."

"Do you mind?" The boy asked pointedly. The girl whined.

"N-Not really, ohh..."

"Then leave it for later," the boy growled. "Always a later..."

The couple became extremely passionate, and Rei felt their emotions billow up and sweep over her, as though she were caught up in a tide. She felt her breath quicken, her skin warm...

The boy looked up at her, and stared.

"Who the fuck are you?" He asked.

Rei's eyes opened. Her heart beat frantically in her chest, like a frightened bird trying to escape a box. She was drawing deep breaths. She felt warm all over...

A moment later, the impressions were gone. The feelings were gone. She stared up at the ceiling, silent and contemplative despite the red in her cheeks and sheen of sweat on her brow.

- - - - - -

Gendo Ikari was not a man for whom doubt stuck long. Every action he had taken since that day so long ago, when he had left the Antarctic to escape Second Impact, was focused on one objective. There was no hesitation, no resistance. In that, he supposed, there was an odd sort of freedom-No atrocity after Second Impact could match up, so with that done, any other sin would be inconsequential.

He did sometimes wonder what it would be like to feel guilt over his actions, to lack this surety. He felt it only vaguely, and then pulled back, believing the concept to be of no consequence. The course was set. There was nothing more to do than see it through.

He stopped in front of the elevator and waited. He had returned from dealing with SEELE over the battle with the Third Angel. The old men had not been happy, but the necessity of maintaining Unit 01 had overridden any real objections to his work. Gendo snorted-They would forever complain, and he would only heed their foolishness when it suited him. They knew he was the only one able to accomplish their objectives, even with the risk of allowing him control over Third Impact.

An elegant solution, without freedom to choose otherwise. Not a perfect scenario, but the closest that could be established.

The elevator doors opened, and Gendo looked upon the form of his son, whose face, already marred with anger, filled with true fury. The boy glared at him without a bit of hesitation. Gendo ignored his son, and stepped into the elevator between Misato and Shinji.

"Commander," Misato greeted formally as she exited. Gendo spared her a nod. Shinji continued to glare at him as he stepped out into the hallway. For a moment, he looked as though he might say something, but Shinji sighed instead and the anger left his face.

"Commander," he added softly, before the elevator doors closed. Gendo felt a slight twitch in his jaw. He determinedly ignored it.

- - - - - - -

"So, where are you and the Doctor staying?" Misato asked, hoping to distract Shinji from the unpleasant moment of before. The Third Child looked over at her, and shrugged.

"Haven't decided yet... Haven't seen him since yesterday..."

"Neither have I," Misato hummed. She smiled at Shinji.

"Tell you what! There are a couple of empty apartments where I live. And I know the manager. I'm sure I could find you guys somewhere to stay."

"That'd be great, Misato. Thanks," Shinji said, returning her smile for a brief moment. She reflected that he definitely looked much cuter with a smile on his face...

Woah. Hold on there, perverted old woman. Keep your thoughts away from there...

"Ah! Shinji! Captain! Finally! This bloody place is a maze!"

Shinji looked down the hall and shot the Doctor a suspicious look. "And where the heck have you been?"

"Oh, attending to this and that," the Doctor said cheerfully. "But, I feel rather fatigued. Let's head for home, shall we?" He looked at Misato. "If you'd like, Captain, we could give you a lift."

"Mm? You have a car?" Misato asked. The Doctor nodded.

"Oh yes..."

"As much as I appreciate it, I think my car will get us home. Besides, I know where I can find a place for you to stay and it's easier in one car," Misato said, striding down the hallway towards the car park. The Doctor moved to let her pass, and then followed, sharing a look with Shinji. Shinji frowned and narrowed his eyes at the Doctor, who looked the picture of innocence.

The reason was revealed soon enough, once they reached the carpark. As they approached the Renault, the car looked just as they had left it-Beat up, badly damaged, but potentially drivable.

"See? I told you," Misato said cheerfully. She pulled out the remote for the car doors, and unlocked it.

Beep Beep!

With that sound... The entire vehicle proceeded to fall apart like a model without glue. Misato's jaw nearly hit the pavement as her pride and joy became little more than a collection of spare parts that lay in a design vaguely recognizable as a car.

"M-My car..." She mumbled hollowly. Shinji turned and glared at the Doctor.

"What did you do?" Shinji hissed.

"Nothing! I made it so the car could get us to NERV," the Doctor said. "I kept my end of the bargain, it's not my fault the Renault broke it!" He walked up next to the stunned Misato, and gave her a smile.

"Don't worry though, Captain! I know a repair shop that will put her back together, good as new! I'll pay for it, no worries!"

Misato stared at the Doctor for a long time, as though contemplating how many ways she could kill him. She then slowly nodded.

"Agreed... That's very generous, by the way."

"Least I can do. Anyway, my transportation should be here... Now," the Doctor said, as a cheerful honking of a car horn filled the garage. In moments, an old-fashioned Cadillac ambulance drove up, coming to a stop with an afterfire from it's engine.

Misato blinked.

"Uhhh..."

"Here she is!" The Doctor patted the hood of the car affectionately. "Hop in, won't you?"

Shinji gave Misato a smile. "The Doctor's, um, very good at robotics and stuff..."

"Ah, I see," Misato said. Really, it wasn't the strangest thing she'd ever seen, and with how much the MAGI did for Tokyo-3, it wasn't as though it was unheard of for vehicles that could drive themselves.

But there was a strange feeling she got from the car, as she slid into the front seat and buckled up. A feeling that it was much more than it appeared. Then again, she got that same feeling around the Doctor and Shinji, so perhaps she shouldn't have been surprised.

"It took her a while to get here," Shinji observed. The Doctor shrugged and put the car in gear. They took off at a relatively sedate pace compared to Misato's frantic driving.

"She's a bit tuckered out from some errands I had to run," the Doctor said. "So, Captain, where to?"

Misato quickly gave him the directions to her apartment, and in mere moments they were off.

- - - - - - -

Sorry for the long time between updates, but school seems to enjoy sapping my brain of all its creativity and will to write. I'm trying to get my degree in fifteen months, and then a job of some kind afterwards. Maybe with the State Department, go to other countries. I kind of suck at foreign languages but enough time in another country and anyone can figure out the tongue if you work at it. Unless you're mute or deaf but that brings with it a whole slew of other problems, so I won't worry about it.